T-Mobile to Launch App Store?

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)

Moconews.net reports (http://www.moconews.net/entry/419-t-mobile-usa-to-revamp-content-strategy-in-the-fall-to-mirror-apples-ap/) that according to "multiple sources", T-Mobile is planning to launch an app store across their entire lineup of phones. Think of *Apple’s* App store, but for the entire carrier’s handset line-up from smartphone to feature phone. As one developer, who was briefed on the matter, said: “The App store was a big deal, but that’s one phone. This is an entire carrier.”According to Moconews, developers will submit their applications online and receive a revenue-share agreement based on how much network resources are consumed. A video streaming application, for example, would require a higher percentage to T-Mobile. The site again emphasizes that the store will apply across all different platforms including Android, Java, Sidekick and Windows Mobile.

The store, of course, will draw comparisons to Apple's recently launched App Store which offers developers a fixed 70%/30% split with 70% going to developers.

Article Link (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/08/08/t-mobile-to-launch-app-store/)

[thecartoonguy]

BAAAAAAA ha ha ha ha ha..no stop it you're killing me...... Oh gosh can't breathe, T-mobile you trouble makers....... side hurting from laughing.

Really though, not sure how this will work out since I can not think of a phone with decent graphics. I could be wrong.

[p0intblank]

Why do I see this not succeeding?

[yetanotherdave]

So developers are expected to support multiple defferent operating systems accross multiple sets of hardware from multiple vendors with no common agreed standard other than the numberic pad, whic with touchscreen and qwerty keyboards isn't really a standard anymore...
Sounds like an uphill struggle to me, I forsee some quality apps...

[kduffey]

How is this any different than the Qualcomm run store that Verizon and Sprint use across their product line? CDMA driven WAP store and music etc?

Whoopee - when they get the integration, UI and a real phone then we'll look.

[bob122989]

As much of a chuckle as i got out of this, i quickly reminded myself that this is only a good thing even if this store does better than the Apple App Store, because it means Apple will improve and make it better to make up for it, the customer wins even more :D .

Amazes me how Apple always seems to push things forward in technology.

Hopefully T-Mobile will come up with something great and Apple will have to counter with something even better for us iPhone users. Heres to hoping! :D

[superleccy]

Dunno about T-Mobile specifically, but any network provider that tried this would be bound to screw it up.

The combination of...
too many platforms (and too many handset models within each platform);
too many mechanisms for installing & managing applications;
an over obsession with squeezing profit out of the value chain;
the knee-jerk rush-to-market;
the lack of Apple's design flair.

...will be its downfall.

The iPhone has proved that the network providers are nothing more than a bit-pipe between the device and the Internet, plus voice, voicemail and text messaging. They've been trying, and failing, to be more than this for years.

SL

[Syrus28]

Uhh...What apps are gonna run on the numerous Sidekicks, BlackBerrys, RAZRs, and WinMo phones without requiring separate development? If they require separate development, what's the point in the first place? This rumor sounds a little... fake. :D

[pjabbott]

That's actually a good idea. Pricing the cut based on how much network the app uses will encourage developers (especially ones coming from the desktop world) to not be piggy with resources.

[plumbingandtech]

The App store was a big deal, but that’s one phone. This is an entire carrier.”

Comedy. Just comedy.

Sounds like a win mo or palm dev to me.
:p

[motulist]

I actually hope they make a good consumer-friendly system that works well, but it seems like the technical details of making apps that work on multiple different phone operating system is just way too difficult to wind up with a good result.

[bobbleheadbob]

More competition is (almost) always a good thing. :) Even if it eventually fails. ;)

[NotFound]

The sidekick already has a mild form of an "App store" ... Don't know if I would ever use this for my sidekick but, I guess we'll see. I wonder how long it would take for them to push this addition to my firmware seeing as I still have not gotten the June/July firmware upgrade that brings video capabilities. :mad:

[nostaws]

wow:rolleyes:

I am a tmobile customer using a samsung phone.

I wish I had an iphone :( and could use the apple store.

(thinking about buying and unlocking an edge iphone on craigslist)

[skellener]

An app store might be good. It all depends on how it is handled and how good the apps are. The real gems whether on the iPhone or any other device is providing something useful that the carrier or device maker hasn't.

Do I have faith in this multi-platform, multi-device app store? No way.

The real gem of T-Mobile is their customer service. Something I doubt AT&T will ever be able to compete with. So yeah, app stores may come and go, but great customer service is what you build a reputation with.

[phinnaeus]

The first problem that I foresaw was the multiple platform fiasco, but most phones run a java engine, they could limit applications to that (though that would do just that, limit the potential of any application).

[gcmexico]

As much of a chuckle as i got out of this, i quickly reminded myself that this is only a good thing even if this store does better than the Apple App Store, because it means Apple will improve and make it better to make up for it, the customer wins even more :D .

Amazes me how Apple always seems to push things forward in technology.

Hopefully T-Mobile will come up with something great and Apple will have to counter with something even better for us iPhone users. Heres to hoping! :D
*
I was thinking the same thing!! we need more competition!

[Orlandooo]

Naaaaaah.

Although maybe it could be successful if someone made an "I wish I actually had an iPhone" app to make the appearance iPhone like :|

Disclaimer: This comment does not make me a dick, as I don't even have an iPhone. (Yet).

[inkswamp]

Whenever I see a large company announce a major initiative like this (think Google's Android, Amazon's Kindle, Wal-Mart music downloads, etc.) I always look for the big missing piece... because there usually is one.

In this instance, it's this from the article...

In other words, we are talking about T-Mobile’s 31.5 million subscribers today vs. the 10 million iPhones Apple

Ooooh, sounds impressive huh? Imagine 3 times the success of Apple's App Store launch? Oh, I bet there's a lot of slobber on the T-Mobile executive meeting room tables.

The problem is that no single app is going to run on all 31.5 million phones. They're all different platforms, different operating systems and differing hardware. There won't be any big sellers in the T-Mobile app store and therefore developers are not going to flock to it.

For example, do you think Sega is going to step up and create Monkeyball for Windows Mobile, Android, Symbian, etc., etc. No, they are not going to waste their time trying to sell to a potential subset of 31.5 million subscribers that will, in all likelihood, be smaller than Apple's 10 million potential customers.

[haunebu]

How is this any different than the Qualcomm run store that Verizon and Sprint use across their product line? CDMA driven WAP store and music etc?

Whoopee - when they get the integration, UI and a real phone then we'll look.

Exactly. This is a non-story, aimed at getting pageviews for the source article.

Carriers have made downloadable applications available from their mobile portals since the advent of WAP and J2ME in 1999.

[Westside guy]

I've been a T-Mobile customer for several years. I'm reasonably certain that this new "app store" will just be a rebranding of their silly existing store, where they try to get you to spend way too much money on pointless add-on services for your phone.

T-Mobile is no different than the other carriers - I don't think any of them really get the concept of the iPhone App Store. They're still looking for ways to pretend providing cell phone service is more than just being a commodity broker.

[Syrus28]

Whenever I see a large company announce a major initiative like this (think Google's Android, Amazon's Kindle, Wal-Mart music downloads, etc.) I always look for the big missing piece... because there usually is one.

In this instance, it's this from the article...



Ooooh, sounds impressive huh? Imagine 3 times the success of Apple's App Store launch? Oh, I bet there's a lot of slobber on the T-Mobile executive meeting room tables.

The problem is that no single app is going to run on all 31.5 million phones. They're all different platforms, different operating systems and differing hardware. There won't be any big sellers in the T-Mobile app store and therefore developers are not going to flock to it.

For example, do you think Sega is going to step up and create Monkeyball for Windows Mobile, Android, Symbian, etc., etc. No, they are not going to waste their time trying to sell to a potential subset of 31.5 million subscribers that will, in all likelihood, be smaller than Apple's 10 million potential customers.
Step back, and remember this is a RUMOR. No one from T-Mobile has announced anything, and I doubt they ever will. You see, the companies are usually not as dumbfounded as the people who start these rumors, who are usually the ones who go around gloating the the impossible statistics.

[bobertoq]

NO! I want T-mobile launch the iPhone!

[tingly]

http://developer.t-mobile.com

[Frisco]

T-Mobile and Sprint are dead. In the end it will be AT&T and Verizon the only ones still standing.

[applefan69]

we may not have known this at launch... but apple pulled more then one genius move at the original iPhone launch.

Now i look at it... its unbelievable how perfectly apple designed the iPhone.

See as steve jobs once said
"why use physical keys? what if we come up wiht a great idea later down the road... we cant just stick a new key into everyones phone can we??"

Meanwhile a regular company would have thought
"YeH!! you all love your physical keys... and you know what?? if we come up with a great idea we'll just stick it in next years model... !!! :) "

difference is :
5 years from now the original iPhone could be just as supported as the brand new iPhone that came out that year... simply thanks to firmware updates

What does THAT mean? Well 5 years from now the total number of iPhones being supported could be 30+ million maybe EVEN 50 million who knows?


Apples strategy is beggining to be clear... and oh boy its a good one. Im 100% confident apple has set their pieces up for the perfect check mate... we all have our doubts abou AT&T but honestly I dont think we should worry about it, because I think at&t is just a pawn in apples grand strategy.

Now would be a good time to invest in apple stock we've all been watching it rise... and trust me at the moment when you think about it.. the last 2 years I think apple has just been coasting by setting their pieces up. Particularly with iPhone and cocoa touch (say hello to the best multi-touch API from any company)

To further clarify I feel like snow leopard is an optimization release for 1 simple reason:
apple plans to optimize and perfect everything as good as they can so OS X is prepared for a great break through into the mass market. (multi touch)

[Syrus28]

http://developer.t-mobile.com

Interesting. However, no one's going to be jumping through the loops to develop for the many RAZRS and throw-away Nokia phones. Its probably going to be mainly smart phones, which already have their own development platforms... Which is kind of... pointless.

T-Mobile just wants to write their name on it, but why would anyone limit themselves to T-Mobile, when AT&T and Verizon provide many more customers? I doubt they will be getting many exclusives.

[ecoons]

In other words, we are talking about T-Mobile’s 31.5 million subscribers today vs. the 10 million iPhones Apple

What about the iPod Touch? I am pretty sure I can use apps too. Also, since they are practically giving these away with their computers now, there are probably twice as many Touches out there than iPhones, just a guess ;)

[Syrus28]

we may not have known this at launch... but apple pulled more then one genius move at the original iPhone launch.

Now i look at it... its unbelievable how perfectly apple designed the iPhone.

See as steve jobs once said
"why use physical keys? what if we come up wiht a great idea later down the road... we cant just stick a new key into everyones phone can we??"

Meanwhile a regular company would have thought
"YeH!! you all love your physical keys... and you know what?? if we come up with a great idea we'll just stick it in next years model... !!! :) "

difference is :
5 years from now the original iPhone could be just as supported as the brand new iPhone that came out that year... simply thanks to firmware updates

What does THAT mean? Well 5 years from now the total number of iPhones being supported could be 30+ million maybe EVEN 50 million who knows?


Apples strategy is beggining to be clear... and oh boy its a good one. Im 100% confident apple has set their pieces up for the perfect check mate... we all have our doubts abou AT&T but honestly I dont think we should worry about it, because I think at&t is just a pawn in apples grand strategy.

Now would be a good time to invest in apple stock we've all been watching it rise... and trust me at the moment when you think about it.. the last 2 years I think apple has just been coasting by setting their pieces up. Particularly with iPhone and cocoa touch (say hello to the best multi-touch API from any company)

To further clarify I feel like snow leopard is an optimization release for 1 simple reason:
apple plans to optimize and perfect everything as good as they can so OS X is prepared for a great break through into the mass market. (multi touch)
I can't imagine it being that easy. You see, there once was a phone called the RAZR. Everyone wanted one, and soon the price came down and everyone bought one. Turns out, the other companies are jealous and decide to design their own RAZR-like phone. The early ones suck, so people stay with the RAZR. Soon enough, all these people's contracts ended and were looking for a new phone. The other phones improved quite a bit, and since they already had a RAZR (and Motorola wasn't producing anything much different), they went looking for a different phone. Motorola fails, and starts bleeding money, because when thinking of Motorola, the were "been there, done that".

Now I'm not saying Apple is going the same route, but It's going to take more than adding 3G, GPS, and some colors to keep its customers when the other phones catch up (which they ALWAYS do). Apple's been smart so far, as people who are on other services haven't experienced the iPhone yet. What happens in 2 years when the AT&T exclusivity is up, and Apple (presumably) floods the market with iPhones? Once those contracts end (and other phones improvde), people are going to look for a different experience. Not necessarily better, but different.

[xix]

Great, go for it. Won't be as good as the App Store though.

[Wordwise]

For example, do you think Sega is going to step up and create Monkeyball for Windows Mobile, Android, Symbian, etc., etc. No, they are not going to waste their time trying to sell to a potential subset of 31.5 million subscribers that will, in all likelihood, be smaller than Apple's 10 million potential customers.

Developing for the iPhone also means developing for the iPod Touch...how many of them are out there too?

[noodle654]

T-Mobile and Sprint are dead. In the end it will be AT&T and Verizon the only ones still standing.

Agreed. T-Mobile and Sprint should just give up now, I dont know one person that uses either of them.

[miketcool]

Agreed. T-Mobile and Sprint should just give up now, I dont know one person that uses either of them.

I third that. As a current T-Mobile customer happy with my flexible plan and pleasant/helpful customer service, I wish they would fold. They can't be doing that good else where in the world either, right? Or am I just another ignorant fool?

Try running an iPhone with T-Mo; it was meant to be.

[BigD58]

Hahaha What A Frikin Joke!

[HiRez]

No, they are not going to waste their time trying to sell to a potential subset of 31.5 million subscribers that will, in all likelihood, be smaller than Apple's 10 million potential customers....which will most likely be well over 20 million before they even launch this unholy beast on the world. Remember the 3G is still selling in current markets like hotcakes, with 21 more countries added in the next month.

As for it being truth or a rumor, I have no doubt it will prove true, it's exactly the kind of idiotic me-too catchup games these guys always play. How many iPhone lookalike phones have you seen in the last year? How many are actually as good as an iPhone? None. But there's always some marketing genius at these braindead companies who shamelessly tries to rip off Apple's success, not realizing they don't have any of the actual talent or experience to make such things work. The best they can do is try to make it look the same and hope to fool enough people into buying it.

[kavika411]

If you are interested in the App Store being the best it can be, how can this new competition be anything but good?

[cuestakid]

just out curiosity, does RIM or MSFT get anything for all the their Apps?

[The Tall One]

What about my Blackberry?

[mrmayor92]

its good for people who are stuck with t mobile


im sick of seeing fan boys tear apart everything that isnt apple

[irun5k]

Thank gawd... maybe THESE guys will give me the right to buy the app I truly long for...

Yes, friends. I am Rich.

[severe]

Why do I see this not succeeding?

Because no one cares.

its good for people who are stuck with t mobile
im sick of seeing fan boys tear apart everything that isnt apple

Yea? And yet you use the term "stuck". This thread will probably see more action than that store.

[twoodcc]

i just don't see this being as good as apple's.

[anubis]

I'd like to see them program Super Monkey Ball in Java and have it run well on all phones. :rolleyes:

Apps on other phones suck. No one with a RAZR wants to spend $5 or $10 on some on some piece of crap Java game with NES-level graphics, slow frame rates, and frustrating controls.

[JoeG4]

DIE TMOBILE!

Well, only in the US - the iphone for tmobile countries are okay.. right? Or are you guys such AT&T fanboys now that Apple said you have to worship them, that you hate every mobile carrier?

[mdriftmeyer]

Having seen the inside of T-Mobile and worked with friends who worked there nothing internally built is anything to be impressed. They live on off-the-shelf products and dbase solutions.

PeopleSoft is throughout but hopefully ORACLE is fixing that one.

It sounds great to talk about an App Store, but you don't have the APIs, toolkits nor expertise to remotely compete with APPLE.

[asphyxiafeeling]

you apple fanboys can laugh all you want, this is GOOD news!

when companies compete, consumers win!

i'm with t-mobile right now, so this is awesome for me!

apple making the app store forced everyone else to up their ante. that's just good for everyone! more people are happy, we make more progress, etc.

i can't believe some of you are actually getting angry about this:p

[MacinDoc]

Aside from the lack of a unified platform/OS and the lack of common device inputs and capabilities, the thing that would limit this most compared to the iPhone would be the lack of a Dev Kit. Developing apps for this store would be nothing like developing apps for the iPhone.

[inkswamp]

Step back, and remember this is a RUMOR. No one from T-Mobile has announced anything, and I doubt they ever will. You see, the companies are usually not as dumbfounded as the people who start these rumors, who are usually the ones who go around gloating the the impossible statistics.

The story, whether rumor or not, seems to be gaining traction (has now been reposted to washingtonpost.com) and sounds like the kind of me-too move we should all expect in light of the level of interest and publicity Apple's App Store has generated and the startling increase in iPhone sales in the last month.

So yeah, it's a rumor... one with that hard-to-fake ring of authenticity to it.

[specops]

pro: they will have more phones to reach more ppl

con: you can't design a app to work well on EVERY TMOBILE PHONE.


This is the beauty of the iphone/touch because they both work the same.

[inkswamp]

Aside from the lack of a unified platform/OS and the lack of common device inputs and capabilities, the thing that will limit this most compared to the iPhone will be the lack of a Dev Kit.

All the development tools in the world are useless without a strong developer culture surrounding them. Apple had that in huge amounts from day one because the iPhone dev tools are based on the already-familiar Apple development tools. Apple was very smart to tie iPhone development in with standard Cocoa tools so closely.

[pixlnet]

I definitely understand why t-mobile wants an app store, however I really think this thing will disappoint out of the box. Who knows two years from now, but Apple has done a tremendous job with the whole end to end experience with iPhone. I'm curious to see how Android does but I really think Google will get it right. I'm just hoping hardware manufacturers could step up their game a bit. There's WAY too many clunky recycled devices out there!

If I was a developer I would really be focusing on Android, iPhone, and eventually Windows Mobile 7 applications. I think in the next few years we will see these mobile platforms take off and the little java games will pretty much go to the way side. The mobile space is extremely exciting though, and I think we will see this be a major growth area for the software industry as a whole.

[alphaod]

T-Mobile and Sprint are dead. In the end it will be AT&T and Verizon the only ones still standing.

I hope not; I need T-Mobile's cheap prepaid and Sprint's EVDO for my Kindle.

[ruckus]

lol, this is a good one. It's just not going to work out, no way. As a developer, I know I wouldn't want to be trying to develop for 100 different platforms, there is no way to test on them all or anything.

There will be just too much mayhem. But it will be fun to watch!

[WindowsGuy]

If you're not afraid of competition then why the outcry of how great Apple is.

Pull your RAZR out. It used to be the greatest phone you've ever had and a fashion statement.

Apple is the flavor of the day.

Every other phone company and manufacturer are copying it right now and making it better without Steve getting in the way.

I Love Competition and so should you.

[rspress]

AT&T has had an app store for some time now. It serves the line of phone and you can buy apps from your phone. Of course the primitive WAP browser on most phones make surfing the store a real pain. The Apps are overpriced but there are a very few free ones. Most of the Apps look like 10 year old Palm Pilot apps.

The phone companies don't "get it" and I doubt T-Mobile will either.

[wshwe]

The competition still doesn't get it. The same store that sells apps also should sell music, movies, tv shows and audio books and offer free podcasts.

[arjaosx]

Amazing the world of executives are... On the one end you have a visionary moving the industry forward while on the other are total idiots who do not have an iota of clue of what has hit them and what comes next after that. Funny thing is they get paid all that much just the same :D

I believe this is a knee jerk reaction to lead people to believe that they are at par with Apple, a company that just a year ago launched their first phone which all of these companies who have been in the business since it started are scrambling to catch :D It's just embarrassing.

[ortuno2k]

Monkey see, Monkey do.
Geez.:rolleyes:

[arjaosx]

If you're not afraid of competition then why the outcry of how great Apple is.

Pull your RAZR out. It used to be the greatest phone you've ever had and a fashion statement.

Apple is the flavor of the day.

Every other phone company and manufacturer are copying it right now and making it better without Steve getting in the way.

I Love Competition and so should you.

Funny to hear this competition advocacy form a windows guy ;D Peace.

Yeah , it miht be true that the iPhone is the flavor of the day, but Apple has a record of making their flavors last :P Like the iPod and we still have it a the most popular (not the most feature laden) and best selling MP3 player. Cited for the reason that the iPhone is being laid out on the same strategy : So i expect the iPhone to last.

[Shotgun OS]

I just can't see this suceeding. It just doesn't seem like it will work.

[mdriftmeyer]

All the development tools in the world are useless without a strong developer culture surrounding them. Apple had that in huge amounts from day one because the iPhone dev tools are based on the already-familiar Apple development tools. Apple was very smart to tie iPhone development in with standard Cocoa tools so closely.

Save your breath. Having worked at NeXT and Apple I'm well-versed in the Openstep/Cocoa API paradigm and having dipped unfortunately into the Windows world it's quite clear that NeXT's tools were so far ahead of it's time that the only unfortunate reality was Steve taking 11 years to finally shed the Carbon and Classic platforms. I couldn't wait 11 years as originally promised was 2 years.

I'm looking forward to seeing T-Mobile's store suck and if they want to compete to work with Apple and Cocoa Developers to offer more jobs.

I doubt it will ever happen and it will be a closely tied Nokia/T-Mobile/Qt-Trolltech alliance.

[Syrus28]

just out curiosity, does RIM or MSFT get anything for all the their Apps?
Nope, its free development.

I third that. As a current T-Mobile customer happy with my flexible plan and pleasant/helpful customer service, I wish they would fold. They can't be doing that good else where in the world either, right? Or am I just another ignorant fool?

Try running an iPhone with T-Mo; it was meant to be.
T-Mobile's is the 3rd largest multi-national mobile phone operator in the world, so they aren't doing too bad. ;)

...which will most likely be well over 20 million before they even launch this unholy beast on the world. Remember the 3G is still selling in current markets like hotcakes, with 21 more countries added in the next month.
20 million is a high target, considering their only around 8 million now. Those 21 countries aren't very big markets, I wonder how they compare to the US as a whole. Countries like Argentina, Chile, and Columbia don't seem like big markets to me.
As for it being truth or a rumor, I have no doubt it will prove true, it's exactly the kind of idiotic me-too catchup games these guys always play. How many iPhone lookalike phones have you seen in the last year? How many are actually as good as an iPhone? None. But there's always some marketing genius at these braindead companies who shamelessly tries to rip off Apple's success, not realizing they don't have any of the actual talent or experience to make such things work. The best they can do is try to make it look the same and hope to fool enough people into buying it.
Umm... OK? Its fine to like the iPhone, but there have been some legitimate competitors. The iPhone was not the first touch screen phone, and won't be the last. I don't understand how you can write off everything else as "iPhone Lookalikes" because they aren't better in your eyes. There have been some legitimate competition, such as the Samsung Instinct, LG Dare, LG Vu, HTC touch, and HTC diamond all who have features the iPhone doesn't, so I would exactly write them off as "iPhone lookalikes". There's room for improvement for all parties, Apple included.


The competition still doesn't get it. The same store that sells apps also should sell music, movies, tv shows and audio books and offer free podcasts.
Why? No competitor comes close to matching iTunes in all of those cases, and its better to focus on one first (just like Apple did).

[hardmanb]

but the carriers can't compete effectively.

From my iPhone, I can access the AppStore/iTunes; all the 9,000 mp3 files on my desktop (patent just filed); remotely operate my desktop computer; and remotely access and control my AppleTV and even my home computer and energy management system...all with OSX...one compatible operating system.

Apple has a homogeneous platform...a complete ecosystem where everything can work easily, stable, and compatibly with my entire digital life.

T-mobile doesn't have the platform and the ecosystem. The multiplicity of manufacturers of phones, music players, home entertainment systems and home/office computers cannot be reliably synchronized with the separate parts and different operating systems of their world. It's just too complex.

[ThunderSkunk]

Hahaha.... ohhhhh shiiiiii... Sell stock now! sell sell sell!!!

I am no fanboy, in fact, I don't think I've posted one "nice" thing about Apple yet, & certainly none about the iphone. But... how in the hell does t-mobile think this is possibly going to work?

Unless... it is only necessary that it works from an immediate sales or PR perspective, & doesn't have to actually function worth squat...

hm. I smell desperation.

[Otaviano]

You got love these articles, they bring all the fanboys out the woodwork. LOL at the people cheering the death of Sprint and T-Mobile, love to see how much worse your phone plans would get at a that point.

[lowbatteries]

Now I'm not saying Apple is going the same route, but It's going to take more than adding 3G, GPS, and some colors to keep its customers when the other phones catch up (which they ALWAYS do).

The iPhone is the first cell phone I've ever seen that made me think the age of throw-away phones is coming to an end.

What makes you think other phones will catch up? It's the interface - and not one company knows interfaces better than Apple. Years have gone by since the introduction of OS X and no software maker has even come close to matching its interface. I predict the iPhone will be the same. I give other software makers 5 years AT LEAST to even match THE CURRENT iPhone.

And by then Apple will be blowing us away with something else.

Nope, its free development.

There have been some legitimate competition, such as the Samsung Instinct, LG Dare, LG Vu, HTC touch, and HTC diamond all who have features the iPhone doesn't, so I would exactly write them off as "iPhone lookalikes". There's room for improvement for all parties, Apple included.



You mention a lot of touch-screen phones - not a single one of those is multi-touch. Don't confuse the two - multi-touch opens amazing possibilities for the UI.

The only features I can think of that I want in the iPhone (full bluetooth stack, haptic feedback, wireless sync, uncontrolled software installation) are all software update-able. So, thanks to forward-thinking Apple, the iPhone will be relevant and continue to grow its feature set while all the other throw-away phones come and go.

[kidwithdimples]

I am looking forward to this, LOL.

[Silver-Fox]

If this turns out well, then it's competition for the app store, hopefully they will compete on prices and quality. So both will end up rising, i think this is a good idea

[dicklacara]

As much of a chuckle as i got out of this, i quickly reminded myself that this is only a good thing even if this store does better than the Apple App Store, because it means Apple will improve and make it better to make up for it, the customer wins even more :D .

Amazes me how Apple always seems to push things forward in technology.

Hopefully T-Mobile will come up with something great and Apple will have to counter with something even better for us iPhone users. Heres to hoping! :D

Mmm... I checked the german T-Mobile site which already has a store up-- at least 1 program, ChessGenius, has a Gratis Demo Downloden.

http://mobil.softwareload.de/device:Nokia_N95/product_244779_details.html

[Santa Rosa]

Two word: Epic Fail

Dont need to go through the points again, its already been said. Maybe some of the T-Mo execs should take a look through this thread.

I can't imagine it being that easy. You see, there once was a phone called the RAZR. Everyone wanted one, and soon the price came down and everyone bought one. Turns out, the other companies are jealous and decide to design their own RAZR-like phone. The early ones suck, so people stay with the RAZR. Soon enough, all these people's contracts ended and were looking for a new phone. The other phones improved quite a bit, and since they already had a RAZR (and Motorola wasn't producing anything much different), they went looking for a different phone. Motorola fails, and starts bleeding money, because when thinking of Motorola, the were "been there, done that".

Now I'm not saying Apple is going the same route, but It's going to take more than adding 3G, GPS, and some colors to keep its customers when the other phones catch up (which they ALWAYS do). Apple's been smart so far, as people who are on other services haven't experienced the iPhone yet. What happens in 2 years when the AT&T exclusivity is up, and Apple (presumably) floods the market with iPhones? Once those contracts end (and other phones improvde), people are going to look for a different experience. Not necessarily better, but different.

Its really difficult to say which way the iPhone will go. Will it just be like the Mac. Market share on the up, but in the big scheme of things a generally small segment.

Then again you can look at the iPod. To consumers in general that means MP3 player, music player what have you. Try saying to them iRiver, Creative and you generally get blank stares. The problem I suppose looking at it like that is there was much smaller competition in that space when it came out in comparison to the cell market.

The one big advantage I would say Apple has that your RAZR never had is the ecosystem in which the iPhone lives. Its link with iTunes and the iPod, and now the App Store and its dev community. Taking that into account does that change the playing field a bit. As far as I am aware there isnt another handset maker with Apples ecosystem and computer heritage.

[dicklacara]

T-Mobile and Sprint are dead. In the end it will be AT&T and Verizon the only ones still standing.

Isn't T-Mobile an Apple-authorized iPhone carrier/reseller in Germany?

[Santa Rosa]

The iPhone is the first cell phone I've ever seen that made me think the age of throw-away phones is coming to an end.

What makes you think other phones will catch up? It's the interface - and not one company knows interfaces better than Apple. Years have gone by since the introduction of OS X and no software maker has even come close to matching its interface. I predict the iPhone will be the same. I give other software makers 5 years AT LEAST to even match THE CURRENT iPhone.

And by then Apple will be blowing us away with something else.

You mention a lot of touch-screen phones - not a single one of those is multi-touch. Don't confuse the two - multi-touch opens amazing possibilities for the UI.

The only features I can think of that I want in the iPhone (full bluetooth stack, haptic feedback, wireless sync, uncontrolled software installation) are all software update-able. So, thanks to forward-thinking Apple, the iPhone will be relevant and continue to grow its feature set while all the other throw-away phones come and go.

In the bold. I see that as another key differentiation. Consumers at the moment think that phones that look like the iPhone, will work like it. They virtually all have pressure sensitive touch screens AFAIK. As Steve would put it, yuck. I have seen it first hand a few times now people getting those phones and being disappointed.

Why, simple, it just doesn't work with anywhere near the same elegance. Try a swipe scroll action on a pressure sensitive screen. Its horrible. I had the pleasure (cough cough) of using a few of the iPhone clones and they are just nasty in comparison. One of them I thought was broken because every time I tapped an icon it didn't do anything. Turned out I wasn't pressing near hard enough. Nice.

When and if people start to realize the difference I think thats another big positive in the iPhones feature list. Scroll judder, scroll judder judder lol :)

[reverie]

Do you realize that this effects Google's Android?

Going by T-Mobile's step, there won't be a unified worldwide AppStore platform for the gPhones like for the iPhone*. It will still be in the hands of the carriers to provide that piece of user interaction and marketing, and they don't have the competence. Developers will hate the process of selling their app to every single carrier. Users may not be able to transfer their apps from one gPhone to another gPhone if they are on different networks - because of incompatible DRM. A major competitive disadvantage for Android.

* Or media store! Think about it. Staying inside the Android family won't guarantee that your songs are still playing.

[fastbite]

They are so moronic. Apple always opens the doors to new ideas, then everybody else freaks and tries to copy. Over and over the same story.
By the way, Moconews, translated to Spanish = news from nostril mucus.

[mackiwi]

Never since microsoft has one company been in such a good position to consolidate and dominate the personal entertainment technology market.

Microsoft failed, and remains as simply the dominant PC OS and office suite developer.

Apple used a small but hardcore base of supporters to go from being an alsoran desktop OS/compuer maker to being the following:

- The leader in premium destops and notebooks
- The dominant leader in portable audio players
- The dominant online seller of music
- The dominant online seller of video
- one of the leading music retailers overall.
- A new entrant in the telecommunications handset business, with one of the most sophisticated phones on the market.
- the fastest growing company in the smartphone category
- the most advanced touch screen interface in widespread commercial use
- The App store for the mobile OS X software - available on both the flagship ipod and iphone
- A sudden thrust into a top 3 position of the mobile gaming market, with every ipod touch/iphone more than capable with competing with the DS & PSP
And most importantly:

- A 'LOCK-IN' of existing customers, as the majority of music, videos & applications they have purchased from apple will only work on apple products, meaning when its time for them to replace their iphone/ipods in future - they would be losing the ability to use potentially hundreds or thousands of dollars of already purchased media and software if they dont again buy an apple product.

Potentlailly apple can also enter and succeed in the following markets of personal technology, through the expansion of ipod touches /iphones:

- Digital cameras: add a nice camera to the ipod touch and iphone (5mp+), mobile OS X already betters every other digital camera software out there. GPS also will benefit here (GEOTAGGING)
- GPS navigation: apples already got the hardware in the iphone, add to ipod touch also.
- Digital video: Larger capacity ipod touches/iphones, combined with a camera system of 480 or 720p would eliminate the need for 99% of the general public to own a seperate digital video camera.
- The Apple LCD screen for the living room, capable of streaming your apple media and software 'out of the box' - like no other TV can.

Apple heading in this direction, which seems to be a highly profitable one. While they may not produce the best video camera or GPS unit available, the fact that it will be one feature of many on a single device will ensure success. Sony should really have combined a lot of their personal entertainment products long ago, but now they are heading for the scrapheap who will simply be catering to the prosumer or professional.

The one unknown: will apple products become so ingrained into everyones personal lifestyle, that apple will finally see the halo effect into generl use by business? and does it matter?

[Ted13]

...[People bored with RAZR]...
Now I'm not saying Apple is going the same route, but It's going to take more than adding 3G, GPS, and some colors to keep its customers when the other phones catch up (which they ALWAYS do). Apple's been smart so far, as people who are on other services haven't experienced the iPhone yet. What happens in 2 years when the AT&T exclusivity is up, and Apple (presumably) floods the market with iPhones? Once those contracts end (and other phones improvde), people are going to look for a different experience. Not necessarily better, but different.
Right, that's why nobody uses the iPod anymore. They all got bored and switched to SansDisks & Zunes -- "Not necessarily better, but different"...oh, wait :rolleyes:

Face it, comparing the iPhone to the Razr is ridiculous, the RAZR is just a dumb phone that makes phone calls -- the iPhone is a platform, a computer. In fact it would be much easier for someone to switch from a pre-iPod Touch iPod to another brand, than it will be from the iPhone/iPod Touch. People will have massive investments in apps, that will work nowhere else. And developers will have a massive investment in the iTunes App store, they are unlikely to go elsewhere.

[NorfolkMustard]

can I suggest we make it clear on the front page what countries this is rumoured for, as the T-Mobile brand is used in a few.

cheers

[Stella]

I can't see how this is negative in any way. If it gets users to maximize their cell phones fully - by using applications on it then that is progression, which is good.

There are a ton of good Java apps ( mostly games ) out there that will run on 'feature' phones.



I wonder if T-Mobile feel the need to Nanny their users like Apple and introduce a similar "The Great iPhone App Firewall", or whether they'll put the Responsibility on to the user?

[EagerDragon]

A T-mobile app store would not have that many apps and on top of that most programs will not run on all the phones, they will need multiple images unless the code is Java and even then .... they may still need multiple images to cover all the phones.


IMHO this is a waste of resources, this will not be very successful.

[cdd543]

Yawn tmo..get your 3g network launched in more than 2 cities.

[question fear]

Last night I rolled my eyes at this news too. This morning though I had a thought. There are some people who should be very, very afraid, but it's not Apple.

Have you ever heard of/used a website called Handango? Or a website called Pocketgear? They are two major mobile software stores, and from what I've read they're AWFUL to developers. Not paying them on time, charging fees for all sorts of things, offering incentives and freebies that expire, etc. These stores are mixed stores, meaning you can go there for palm, windows mobile, symbian, blackberry software, etc.

So if T-Mobile offers a clear revenue sharing arrangement with devs of those platforms, Handango, Pocket Gear, et al are screwed. The devs are going to send business to T-Mobile because they're guaranteed a cut, and it's more generous than what Handango was paying them, plus they aren't getting a crazy runaround. And with more devices being smartphones and connected devices, it makes it easier for customers too. They can call their phone company when there's an issue with their software, not the greedy bastards at some 3rd party website.

It's unfortunate that this is getting buried in the comparisons to the app store, but if you aren't using an iPhone this sets a very interesting precedent. Rather than having to hunt for software everywhere, or rely on microsoft, RIM, nokia, etc to provide you links to software, your provider is doing it. Setting the app store and the iPhone aside, since they are on a whole other unique level, for the rest of the playing field this can be a real game changer, and can seriously impact the other mobile OS ecosystems.

[Bosunsfate]

Oh, so very different.

Good luck T-mobile. It might slow the tide just a bit from people leaving.

What I really wonder. How long does Apple really want to be tied up with AT&T

[WindowsGuy]

Funny to hear this competition advocacy form a windows guy ;D Peace.

Yeah , it miht be true that the iPhone is the flavor of the day, but Apple has a record of making their flavors last :P Like the iPod and we still have it a the most popular (not the most feature laden) and best selling MP3 player. Cited for the reason that the iPhone is being laid out on the same strategy : So i expect the iPhone to last.

Yeah I know, kind of like the Newton & AppleTV both about as popular as the Zune.

[Santa Rosa]

Have you ever heard of/used a website called Handango? Or a website called Pocketgear? They are two major mobile software stores, and from what I've read they're AWFUL to developers. Not paying them on time, charging fees for all sorts of things, offering incentives and freebies that expire, etc. These stores are mixed stores, meaning you can go there for palm, windows mobile, symbian, blackberry software, etc.

So if T-Mobile offers a clear revenue sharing arrangement with devs of those platforms, Handango, Pocket Gear, et al are screwed. The devs are going to send business to T-Mobile because they're guaranteed a cut, and it's more generous than what Handango was paying them, plus they aren't getting a crazy runaround. And with more devices being smartphones and connected devices, it makes it easier for customers too. They can call their phone company when there's an issue with their software, not the greedy bastards at some 3rd party website.

Rampant Speculation Warning lol: Who is to say that T-Mobile will be any better than the other people you mention. IMHO they are taking on a mammoth task to even partly deliver what they are talking about. Is that not inevitably going to lead to large scale problems possibly such like what you have described?

[essinger]

Why in the world would a WinMo developer split their profits with T-moblie rather than sell their app directly and keep all the money? Apple was pretty clever to make their store the only way to buy apps for the iPhone. But it can't work on an open platform.

[MacinDoc]

Yeah I know, kind of like the Newton & AppleTV both about as popular as the Zune.
The Newton was 10 years ahead of its time, and even SJ has admitted that TV is really just a hobby. You can hardly compare those to AT&T's top-selling phone, one that is reportedly selling 800,000 units per week.

[3goldens]

Who Cares!

[Cudadown]

WOW, How innovative. How original. My god, these people are rebels. I can't believe they thought of this. Where do they get such grand ideas and put them to practice.


HONEY!, get the checkbook... I need to buy some t-mobile stock now!

[christian_k]

Isn't T-Mobile an Apple-authorized iPhone carrier/reseller in Germany?

Yes, they are.

Another interesting fact: T-Online Germany (which is a subsidary of Deutsche Telekom, just like T-Mobile) operates a service called MusicLoad. Germany is the only country in the world where Apple really has to fight to be #1 in online music sales. ITunes and MusicLoad have a head to head race. This is because Deutsche Telekom still operates most fixed phone lines and DSL connections and many people have the t-online portal as start page when they go online. T-Mobile is the market leader for mobile services here,too (with hard competetion from Vodafone). So they will be able to direct a lot of mobile online customers to an own app store.

So I wonder why we did not hear this news about T-Mobile Germany? They have a very solid position in their home market and Apple is not nearly as strong here as in the US.

Christian

[PinkyMacGodess]

The Motorola StarTAC?

It was the 'must have' and they sold a ton of them. The big problem that I see with the iphone, aside fom all the love shown here on the top of page 2 is that the only thing that can kill it is hardware.

Change the hardware requirements or standards and the iphone is a worthless piece of has been old relic.

That BTW is what killed my StarTAC. The move away from analog.

Speaking of stupid ideas, how about Verizon's idea to walk on the iphone. I heard rumours that it was a fight for control between Apple and Verizon but still, I'm sure whoever botched that is getting tired of cleaning toilets at corporate...

[question fear]

Rampant Speculation Warning lol: Who is to say that T-Mobile will be any better than the other people you mention. IMHO they are taking on a mammoth task to even partly deliver what they are talking about. Is that not inevitably going to lead to large scale problems possibly such like what you have described?

I don't know that, honestly. I was just commenting because a 30%~ revenue share agreement is, from what I've heard, significantly better than Handango. Here's a breakdown of what they're "revenue sharing" looks like. (http://www.modaco.com/content/windows-mobile-news/265649/handango-revises-developer-agreement-developers-despair-at-increased-cut/)

If T-Mobile is only taking 30%, compared to Handango's 50%, that's pretty good for a small developer. Not to mention that if the carrier is running it, the people who bought a winmob or blackberry device but never bothered to download software might actually do it.

(Think about how many apps you'd have to sell to blackberry or windows mobile users to hit a level above $250,000 in sales. They don't have an app store or similar link, so you're relying on their tech savvy, your app being good, AND their using Handango to purchase it. Basically it drives out small developers or forces them to take a huge haircut just to get in the game.)

That's why I'm saying it's not a threat to Apple or the App Store, but to the existing distribution model for EVERYONE ELSE. For business models that are built around multiple carriers/devices/handsets, like Nokia, MS and RIM, this gives their developers more exposure and better pay. Theoretically.

[Insulin Junkie]

Hmm...

[Harmless Abuse]

I've been a T-Mobile customer for several years. I'm reasonably certain that this new "app store" will just be a rebranding of their silly existing store, where they try to get you to spend way too much money on pointless add-on services for your phone.

T-Mobile is no different than the other carriers - I don't think any of them really get the concept of the iPhone App Store. They're still looking for ways to pretend providing cell phone service is more than just being a commodity broker.So the iPhone App store isn't a store to get you to spend way too much money on pointless add-on services for your phone?

What about the pointless games, the pointless ringtones, the pointless apps that are just there for fun, and profit.

The iPhone app. store isn't perfect, and it's the same exact thing as any other app. store or downloads store that any other provider carries.

At least with my T-mobile phone, I can copy and paste, mess with MMS messages (I don't quite remember if those were added on in the 3G), and my data plan is significantly cheaper. Like, $20 a month for unlimited data, texts, and an email account.

I don't give a rat's ass about 3G because 3G isn't available everywhere, even with bigger carriers such as Verizon. You still need to be within some sort of city to get something.

I love Apple products, but sometimes the horribly one-sided opinions upset me.

Sidekicks already have an app. store, and an SDK. The Sidekick is obviously not the world's greatest phone, but at least it has an SDK and was into the App. store thing long before Apple.

[Trajectory]

And what kind of wonderful applications will be developed for Motorola's crappy horrible terrible phone software? How will this work on Nokias, Samsungs, LGs, etc.?

The huge difference here is the iPhone device and OS itself. No other phone comes close to what the iPhone can do.

All these phone companies had years and year to improve the interfaces for their crappy phones, but, haven't bothered out of sheer laziness.

Good luck trying, T-Mobile!

[PinkyMacGodess]

What about that earlier Apple tie in phone that sucked so damn bad...

Yes, the iphone is revolutionary. :eek: To bad the company it's service is tied to in America still works out of the dark ages... :(

[zacman]

And what kind of wonderful applications will be developed for Motorola's crappy horrible terrible phone software? How will this work on Nokias, Samsungs, LGs, etc.?


Jamba!, the market leader as mobile phone content provider, sells all applications for all kinds of different phones without any problems in their apps store. So this shouldn't be a big problem for T-Mobile.

[benflick]

crash an burn:eek: what a horrible idea

[EagerDragon]

Dell is trying to copy the iMac, many try to copy iTunes, Micro$oft wants to copy the Apple experience, Many want to create an iPhone look alike, and T-Mobile wants to create an AppStore. WHAT ELSE IS NEW????

[Flynntoo]

awesome. no threat to apple. potentially helpful to everyone else. doubt it.

[manhattanboy]

Dell is trying to copy the iMac, many try to copy iTunes, Micro$oft wants to copy the Apple experience, Many want to create an iPhone look alike, and T-Mobile wants to create an AppStore. WHAT ELSE IS NEW????

lol:rolleyes:
And everyone is trying to copy my good looks...;)

[winterspan]

This will do nothing to remedy the existing problem of having so many different platforms..


BREW
multiple implementations of JAVA ME
3 different versions of mobile linux
Flash Lite
Symbian S60
UIQ
Palm OS
Windows Mobile
and a handful of other proprietary systems...


Not to mention all the different button configurations, form factors, touchscreens, etc. This is why the iPhone is so attractive as a development platform. I don't see Tmobile really getting anywhere...

[rjwill246]

Yeah I know, kind of like the Newton & AppleTV both about as popular as the Zune.

Talk about looking through the wrong end of the telescope! In your view then, a company would have to have ZERO bombs... show me one, I'm in the market for shares. Oh and while I wait, there is the issue of Apple's 30-40% y/y growth in Macs, iPhone growth that is likely to surpass Nokia (>100 mm) in 3 years, complete dominance of the MP3 world, up to an 80% penetration into Enterprise, a complete reversal of trends in higher education-- and that is the most important number of all-- the Achilles' heel of other OSes!

The Newton was, in fact a hit! Apple TV-- early days, mate. It is a device yet to reach its full potential.

I am amazed at the pundits who see every Apple misstep or new venture as proof that Apple is going down "soon." Re-reading the idiotic rubbish posted last year- mostly from outside the US-- on the iPhone must make those posters blush-- oh, wait...

[kyleb822]

You have got to be kidding me T-Mobile is a joke. This will fizzle out within a few months!

[Mjmar]

hahahahaha!

[MacTraveller]

T-Mobile copy-cats apple?

intimation is the best form of flatbread.

[Westside guy]

So the iPhone App store isn't a store to get you to spend way too much money on pointless add-on services for your phone?

What about the pointless games, the pointless ringtones, the pointless apps that are just there for fun, and profit.

<snip>

I love Apple products, but sometimes the horribly one-sided opinions upset me.

Are you a T-Mobile customer? Do you have the frame of reference to reasonably determine the difference between "one-sided opinions" and legitimate criticism? I'm a T-Mobile customer and an iPod Touch owner, so I think I've got a good foundation to draw the conclusion you criticized.

Apple's App Store is working because they're selling apps people actually want, be it games or what-not (you mention ring tones - is that even part of the App Store?). As a T-Mobile customer for 3-4 years, I've been struck by the fact that they keep trying to get you to buy stuff that, as far as I can tell, has very little appeal to most anyone. Yet whenever I log in to check my bill or whatnot, they're still trying hard to market what basically amounts to crap - there are the requisite ring-tones, wallpapers, and a very poor selection of games in there (well everyone likes Bejeweled, but other than that...).

Now the thing is - one of the reasons I like T-Mobile is they don't seriously lock down their phones. So I can, for free, put together wallpaper of my choosing and put it on my phone. I can, for free, put together my own ring-tones. I can use Bluetooth to sync my address book and my calendar with my phone, without having to pay them for the privilege (the main reason I left Verizon). Their new "$10 home phone" is a great idea for people who still want an actual home phone number. But yet they still keep trying to sell the warmed-over crap that is their "T-Zone" store. It hasn't really changed over the time I've been a customer; so I fully expect this new store of theirs will just be a slightly redesigned version of the same tired offerings.

[Syrus28]

The Newton was 10 years ahead of its time, and even SJ has admitted that TV is really just a hobby. You can hardly compare those to AT&T's top-selling phone, one that is reportedly selling 800,000 units per week.
No, it's a rumor that Apple is reportedly building 800,00 per week. Anyways, the fact remains that not everything Apple has put out is as big of a success as we all try to make it.
Dell is trying to copy the iMac, many try to copy iTunes, Micro$oft wants to copy the Apple experience, Many want to create an iPhone look alike, and T-Mobile wants to create an AppStore. WHAT ELSE IS NEW????
Kool-aid.
Right, that's why nobody uses the iPod anymore. They all got bored and switched to SansDisks & Zunes -- "Not necessarily better, but different"...oh, wait :rolleyes:
Umm... The iPod is an mp3 player, while the iPhone & RAZR are phones.

Talk about looking through the wrong end of the telescope! In your view then, a company would have to have ZERO bombs... show me one, I'm in the market for shares. Oh and while I wait, there is the issue of Apple's 30-40% y/y growth in Macs, iPhone growth that is likely to surpass Nokia (>100 mm) in 3 years, complete dominance of the MP3 world, up to an 80% penetration into Enterprise, a complete reversal of trends in higher education-- and that is the most important number of all-- the Achilles' heel of other OSes!
Ok, time for a reality check.
1.Mac OS X has less than 4% market share worldwide
2.Apple sold about 8 million phones in 1 year. Nokia sells 400 million handsets in 1 year. Apple is aiming for 1% market share, Nokia has 40%
3. iPods have ~70% market share in a shrinking market (US ONLY)LINK (http://apple20.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/01/29/beyond-the-incredible-shrinking-ipod-market/)
4. Macs have ~10% market share in enterprise, and 80% of businesses have at least 1 Mac computer. LINK (http://www.tuaw.com/2008/06/28/80-of-us-businesses-have-macs/)
5. Macs have 31% in education (US only) LINK (http://macenstein.com/default/archives/1229)

Don't take this as downplaying Apple's accomplishments. Apple has been extremely successful, but they've only had 1 break away success so far (iPod) but people keep acting like its nearly guaranteed everything they release will be the same.

I am amazed at the pundits who see every Apple misstep or new venture as proof that Apple is going down "soon." Re-reading the idiotic rubbish posted last year- mostly from outside the US-- on the iPhone must make those posters blush-- oh, wait...
Do they not do the same thing for other companies? Anytime Microsoft is mentioned, Microsoft is apparently "dying". Anytime someone comes up with a new touch screen phone, its an "iPhone clone". People always jump to premature conclusions, sadly. It's only natural. :D

[Digitalclips]

Amazes me how Apple always seems to push things forward in technology.
:D

What would the tech world do without Apple to copy all the time?

[zacman]

Not to mention all the different button configurations, form factors, touchscreens, etc. This is why the iPhone is so attractive as a development platform. I don't see Tmobile really getting anywhere...

Again: Jamba! supports all these different platforms with their app store, they are the market leader and made 600 million revenue already in 2005 (wikipedia doesn't have any numbers from 2006/07). It's a long way for Apple to come even close with their AppStore.

[illutionz]

Java crapplet??? :D:D:D:D
I had enough of those

[ScubaDuc]

I am not an expert programmer but can't one just "port" the application to a different OS with minimal modifications? :confused:

I seem to recall that Nokia recently bought a software company that markets a software called Qt (pr. cute) that should do just that. Also, according to Olly Pekka, Nokia is coming out with a line of touch phones based on symbyan in the last quarter of the year. Some Nokia Phones offer interesting functions like geotagging photos, UpnP, Internet Radio, VoiP....

[macUser2007]

I am not sure why there are any negative ratings on this one. I guess a lot of religious idiots click up.

Competition is good. T-Mobile is a giant company, providing service in a number of countries around the world. So they do have the user base for their shop.

They have to cover only a couple of major OSs. I use both a first gen iPhone and a WM 6.1 HTC.

While overall the iPhone provides a more complete and easier user experience (visual voicemail rocks, and Safari is still the best, (although Opera 9.5 is getting close,)) the WM 6.1 is in some way more useful, particularly when traveling (and I've skinned in a way that I actually like it as much as the iPhone.)

There are a ton of great apps for WM 6.1, so offering them all in one place is a good idea.

So, be grateful for the competition. If it weren't for competing touch phones, I doubt Apple would have been in any hurry to provide G3, GPS, or even the App Store....

[gkarris]

T-Mobile and Sprint are dead. In the end it will be AT&T and Verizon the only ones still standing.

What about the rest of the world?

Agreed. T-Mobile and Sprint should just give up now, I dont know one person that uses either of them.

I use T-Mobile.

btw, just so you know, T-Mobile has the iPhone... (and they only charge 1 Euro for it with the higher plans).

http://www.t-mobile.de/iphone/

[Lanbrown]

I can see the store being profitable. Nothing says that one app would have to work on all phones.

The largest seller of mobile phone software would be Handango and from what many developers say, Handango can take up to 90% of the sale at times. T-Mobile will make it easy for the consumer to buy the apps as the phone will be T-Mobile branded and provide a link to the store. It will bring the store closer to the users. I cannot see many developers wanting to continue their relationship with Handango.

[megfilmworks]

What about that earlier Apple tie in phone that sucked so damn bad...

Yes, the iphone is revolutionary. :eek: To bad the company it's service is tied to in America still works out of the dark ages... :(

That wasn't an Apple phone, it was a Moto that could play iTunes.
It's been said that the Motorola joke was the reason Apple decided to build their own phone.

Not sure what the dark ages have to do with Att, not sure you do either.

[Avicdar]

I can't imagine it being that easy. You see, there once was a phone called the RAZR. Everyone wanted one, and soon the price came down and everyone bought one. Turns out, the other companies are jealous and decide to design their own RAZR-like phone. The early ones suck, so people stay with the RAZR. Soon enough, all these people's contracts ended and were looking for a new phone. The other phones improved quite a bit, and since they already had a RAZR (and Motorola wasn't producing anything much different), they went looking for a different phone. Motorola fails, and starts bleeding money, because when thinking of Motorola, the were "been there, done that".

Now I'm not saying Apple is going the same route, but It's going to take more than adding 3G, GPS, and some colors to keep its customers when the other phones catch up (which they ALWAYS do). Apple's been smart so far, as people who are on other services haven't experienced the iPhone yet. What happens in 2 years when the AT&T exclusivity is up, and Apple (presumably) floods the market with iPhones? Once those contracts end (and other phones improvde), people are going to look for a different experience. Not necessarily better, but different.

I don't agree with this at all. My reason is simple: history can repeat itself.

Remember the original iPod? It held less songs for more money than much of its competition. People scoffed that it would fail miserably.

Apple knows better than anyone that the specs on a spec sheet do not guarantee a successful product. if you were to compare the jukebox style 20gb mp3 players that were in competition with the original iPod you'd know this.

Apples key is the tight integration between software and hardware. The user experience. Taking what used to be completed or just 'too hard' to do, and making it simple.

Case in point - MobileMe. I make a change to a calendar on my desktop computer and it magically ends up on my phone and my laptop. I grab an app from the app store on my phone, it installs itself and enhances the functionality of the phone. The app gets automatically backed up to iTunes when I connect the phone.

I was reading Wired today for the first time in a long time and I noticed a phone ad for an iPhone style device that featured things like turn by turn navigation as one of its built in features. The iPhone does not have this, yet. But even if it never did would an extra feature actually make people flock to another phone?

Learn from the iPod experience. It caught on not because of the device alone but because of the infrastructure and support around it. Apple 'gets' this like no other company. Microsoft is only now starting to (or so they say) pay attention to that.

[tmiw]

T-Mobile and Sprint are dead. In the end it will be AT&T and Verizon the only ones still standing.

Yes, I definitely want to pay the same prices the people on Rogers do for their iPhones. :rolleyes:

In all seriousness, though, I see Sprint disappearing, but probably not T-Mobile, unless something changes in the next few years.

[Frisco]

Yes, I definitely want to pay the same prices the people on Rogers do for their iPhones. :rolleyes:

In all seriousness, though, I see Sprint disappearing, but probably not T-Mobile, unless something changes in the next few years.

Sprint will definitely be bought out within the next 6 months. They are just losing too much money and too many customers.

[tmiw]

Sprint will definitely be bought out within the next 6 months. They are just losing too much money and too many customers.

Actually, I don't think so. At least, not until they get rid of Nextel. They'd be too much of a liability to anyone else if they still have it, even if Verizon is the suitor. Considering the economy and the difficulty of finding cash for such a purchase, a Chapter 11 scenario might be more likely.

[babyj]

The problem is that no single app is going to run on all 31.5 million phones. They're all different platforms, different operating systems and differing hardware. There won't be any big sellers in the T-Mobile app store and therefore developers are not going to flock to it.

For example, do you think Sega is going to step up and create Monkeyball for Windows Mobile, Android, Symbian, etc., etc. No, they are not going to waste their time trying to sell to a potential subset of 31.5 million subscribers that will, in all likelihood, be smaller than Apple's 10 million potential customers.

T-Mobile have got about 100 Million customers worldwide.

Don't forget that developers won't be limited to selling via T-Mobile, they can sell their apps to customers on any network. Develop an app to run on Symbian and it will run on any Symbian phone - not just T-Mobile ones.

[blimeyoriley]

such ******* copycats

[tmiw]

such ******* copycats

Or, Apple did such an awesome job that everyone needs to copy them to stay afloat. Optimism is always better than being angry that people are competing with you. :)

[Popeye206]

If you're not afraid of competition then why the outcry of how great Apple is.

Every other phone company and manufacturer are copying it right now and making it better without Steve getting in the way.

I Love Competition and so should you.

Nothing wrong with competition.... but this is Apples to Oranges for lack of a better metaphor. No developer wants to build for 60 different phones and 10 different OS's. It does not make sense. Also, A Razor is limited in what it can do compared to an iPhone. Apple has one the the best delivery mechanisms out there (iTunes) and a strong platform. Not perfect, but stronger than many others. As a developer, I would go for the iPhone/iPod platform just because it has a mass audience on one platform. If I choose to develop for something else... then so be it, but I don't think I'll waste my time on a Razor phone or some goofy half baked Samsung iPhone wantabe.

What I don't understand is why some people have such trouble accepting that what Apple has done with the iPods, iPhone and iTunes is truly industry changing and very cool? I'm guessing that 99% of people that "poo-poo" Apple and the iPhone, don't even own one or have even tried one.

As for the T-Mobile store... my bet is it will be a "me too" flop. Maybe Zune users will like it????

[Popeye206]

T-Mobile have got about 100 Million customers worldwide.

Don't forget that developers won't be limited to selling via T-Mobile, they can sell their apps to customers on any network. Develop an app to run on Symbian and it will run on any Symbian phone - not just T-Mobile ones.

The key is Distribution! Anyone can develop and try and sell an application, but it's the distribution that makes the difference. iTunes and Apples App Store is an awesome deal. Direct and easy access to all iPhone and iPod Touch users. Do something for Symbian or Palm and now you have to go find the customers. You have to bring them to you and that takes marketing and money. Something you don't have to do when an Apple developer.

How many times on your Razor (for example) have you ever connected to a web site and downloaded an update or checked in with Motorola? I never had? With my iPhone, I'm on iTunes all the time. Syncing, getting updates and downloading new content. I'm a click away from some developer selling me their application. On the Razor I never even get in the store.

[Popeye206]

I
I was reading Wired today for the first time in a long time and I noticed a phone ad for an iPhone style device that featured things like turn by turn navigation as one of its built in features. The iPhone does not have this, yet. But even if it never did would an extra feature actually make people flock to another phone?

Please check the facts again... the new 3G phone does have turn by turn GPS navigation. Just a note. :)

[ert3]

Its just a gimic, just like the whole "Get Tones" and stuff thing from Verizon and even more like say um every other carier which makes downloadable applications available.

This won;t do much.

[joejoejoe]

I really really don't understand what's so special about this. Carriers have had app stores for as long as I can remember, and they still do.

Verizon has Get it Now or whatever, cingular had the cingular mall where I dowloaded tetris and pacman to my razr...

What am I missing here?

[Stella]

And add iPhone to your below list.

Why do you single out iPhone from other smartphone platforms?

This will do nothing to remedy the existing problem of having so many different platforms..


BREW
multiple implementations of JAVA ME
3 different versions of mobile linux
Flash Lite
Symbian S60
UIQ
Palm OS
Windows Mobile
and a handful of other proprietary systems...


Not to mention all the different button configurations, form factors, touchscreens, etc. This is why the iPhone is so attractive as a development platform. I don't see Tmobile really getting anywhere...

[mdriftmeyer]

And add iPhone to your below list.

Why do you single out iPhone from other smartphone platforms?

Learn ObjC/Cocoa, write for the many devices of OS X and make some money.

Oh I forgot, you've got that jaded signature holding you back.

[MacTraveller]

I really really don't understand what's so special about this. Carriers have had app stores for as long as I can remember, and they still do.

Verizon has Get it Now or whatever, cingular had the cingular mall where I dowloaded tetris and pacman to my razr...

What am I missing here?

wut u r missin iz dat tmobile wants 2b liek appel. and wanna b liek appel will make tmobile profitable again n make customer flock to tmobile sayn 'oh its just liek appel. lets sine ups!'

[iLeoMarc]

Do you realize that this effects Google's Android?

Going by T-Mobile's step, there won't be a unified worldwide AppStore platform for the gPhones like for the iPhone*. It will still be in the hands of the carriers to provide that piece of user interaction and marketing.....

If T-Mobile will be handling the app store, and not Google on Andriod; I hope they don't get any ideas and try to do the same on the iPhone. If that's the case Apple will never give T-MO the iPhone in the US.

[inkswamp]

T-Mobile have got about 100 Million customers worldwide.

Don't forget that developers won't be limited to selling via T-Mobile, they can sell their apps to customers on any network. Develop an app to run on Symbian and it will run on any Symbian phone - not just T-Mobile ones.

But that doesn't address the wide range of hardware out there. An app developed for Symbian that requires a touchscreen interface or an accelerometer or WiFi isn't going to be a potential sale to all Symbian-based phone owners. So even if T-Mobile has 100 million customers worldwide, you're still subdividing that number down by OS, hardware features, software features, and potentially country (given the legal issues that crop up with international sales.) Apple has potential customers all running hardware that can use all the apps as-is. Frankly, I see more potential in Apple's 10M subscribers than T-Mobile's 100M. (And as it has been mentioned already, iPod Touch owners are also part of the App Store party too so it's disingenuous to compare subscriber numbers.)

[Stella]

Learn ObjC/Cocoa, write for the many devices of OS X and make some money.

Oh I forgot, you've got that jaded signature holding you back.

Actually, I do know objectiveC!

Unfortunately, even if I did write Apps for iPhone / Touch, I couldn't run them on my own device without:
- jail breaking
- paying Apple $99!

That seems so wrong. ( note: Any applications written aren't going to necessarily be for public consumption. )

By the way, my views / concerns aren't jaded, they are legitimate. If microsoft had a 'walled garden' and equal amount of control over its smartphone platform, there would be outrage.

[Flynntoo]

not gonna work

[likemyorbs]

wut u r missin iz dat tmobile wants 2b liek appel. and wanna b liek appel will make tmobile profitable again n make customer flock to tmobile sayn 'oh its just liek appel. lets sine ups!'

ill just say it for everyone. ummm......what?!?!?!

[Avicdar]

Please check the facts again... the new 3G phone does have turn by turn GPS navigation. Just a note. :)

Ok, I've checked.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/14/apple-says-turn-by-turn-gps-coming-to-iphone-copy-paste-not-a/

If the iPhone has turn by turn GPS navigation, someone better tell Apple.

Have things changed in the 3 weeks since this was posted? Did I miss it?

[eastcoastsurfer]

But that doesn't address the wide range of hardware out there. An app developed for Symbian that requires a touchscreen interface or an accelerometer or WiFi isn't going to be a potential sale to all Symbian-based phone owners. So even if T-Mobile has 100 million customers worldwide, you're still subdividing that number down by OS, hardware features, software features, and potentially country (given the legal issues that crop up with international sales.) Apple has potential customers all running hardware that can use all the apps as-is. Frankly, I see more potential in Apple's 10M subscribers than T-Mobile's 100M. (And as it has been mentioned already, iPod Touch owners are also part of the App Store party too so it's disingenuous to compare subscriber numbers.)

How is this any different that an iPhone application that requires the GPS or 3G to function? The only reason the iPhone isn't hampered yet by multiple versions of the hardware is because it's still so new. I'm guessing the next iPhone will change the hardware to the point where there is fragmentation.

Actually, I do know objectiveC!

Unfortunately, even if I did write Apps for iPhone / Touch, I couldn't run them on my own device without:
- jail breaking
- paying Apple $99!

That seems so wrong. ( note: Any applications written aren't going to necessarily be for public consumption. )

By the way, my views / concerns aren't jaded, they are legitimate. If microsoft had a 'walled garden' and equal amount of control over its smartphone platform, there would be outrage.

I agree. Why do someone need to pay $99 in order to write personal applications for their iPhone? What happens if I do write an application and it either isn't liked by apple ("I'm Rich!") or it competes with something they plan on selling soon? Whoops, I'm out of luck. Saying Apple knows best is akin to letting the government track you because obviously they know best.

There is more truth in your sig then I think people realize.

[Tedpod]

or they could just be getting everything set up for when the HTC DREAM is released(rumored to be oct) instead of like apple releasing a product ...then all the cool stuff that goes with it....

Screw AT&T

[jlanuez]

Wirelessly posted (iPhone: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_0_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5B108 Safari/525.20)

wow:rolleyes:

I am a tmobile customer using a samsung phone.

I wish I had an iphone :( and could use the apple store.

(thinking about buying and unlocking an edge iphone on craigslist)

I think a lot if people are doing this. I sold our 2 edge iPhones on CR for $300 each and both people told me they were on T-Mobile.

[thecartoonguy]

wut u r missin iz dat tmobile wants 2b liek appel. and wanna b liek appel will make tmobile profitable again n make customer flock to tmobile sayn 'oh its just liek appel. lets sine ups!'

:eek: What?!!? I need a translator. How the hell do you get by in life writing in such a way? :eek:

[Tedpod]

:eek: What?!!? I need a translator. How the hell do you get by in life writing in such a way? :eek:


wut u r missin iz dat tmobile wants 2b liek appel. and wanna b liek appel will make tmobile profitable again n make customer flock to tmobile sayn 'oh its just liek appel. lets sine ups!'



"What you are missing is that Tmobile wants to mimic apples popularity in order to become more profitable. They would also like to widely expand there customer base by releasing products that are drawing mass attention , thus placing them on an even plane with Apple, leading to customers thinking that there is no difference in the two companies"

[musik26]

How many people out there actually try to install an application or do things rather than making calls on their cellphones?

I think only those people with smartphones will do that. However, I wonder how many of those smartphones on the market are as user friendly as an iphone so that people will actually try to install more applications?
As a result, the number of customers for the T-mobile App-Store will be limited to only a small group of people. Adding together with the difficulty and cost of running such a service to support multiple OSs and hardwares, the result will be suicidal.

Hope that those guys at T-mobile really use their brain before taking any action.

Someone should write a "knock the wood" application for them to play on their phones before they launch their store.

[musik26]

Ok, I've checked.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/14/apple-says-turn-by-turn-gps-coming-to-iphone-copy-paste-not-a/

If the iPhone has turn by turn GPS navigation, someone better tell Apple.

Have things changed in the 3 weeks since this was posted? Did I miss it?

The hardware of iphone 3G has the capability of turn by turn GPS navigation. And function will be ready on 2.1 firmware update (which is believed to be coming real soon).

[Daim]

typical mac fanboys crying about everything that could be competition

[Stella]

What would the tech world do without Apple to copy all the time?

Online cell phone apps stores have been around for a lot longer than the Apple App Store!

( Personally, I downloaded my first app for cell phone, directly, and installed, back in 2004 ).

Here in Canada, Rogers and Fido have an App Store - and I'm sure Bell and Telus do too. You can download directly to your phone.

TMobile isn't copying Apple.

[hexonxonx]

typical mac fanboys crying about everything that could be competition

Agreed. Apple was also not the first to have an app store. Years ago with my Treo, I could go buy apps on the Sprint site to use on my Treo. I just never did because it was only a Treo.

The iPhone on the other hand made it fun and I check the store dailey for new apps I can spend my money on. :D

[mj1108]

Like someone else in this thread said earlier, it'll probably be just a rebranding of their current "store"....which is a joke.

I'm a T-Mo customer currently and am looking forward to November when my contract ends and I jump to the iPhone.

[Avicdar]

The hardware of iphone 3G has the capability of turn by turn GPS navigation. And function will be ready on 2.1 firmware update (which is believed to be coming real soon).

But it doesn't have it now. Today. This minute.

Thats what I was responding to. The person (popeye, I think) stated the iPhone had it now, but it does not. It has the potential with further modification (i.e. software).

I knew it was coming, and my original message stated that the iPhone did not have turn by turn GPS 'yet'.

[inkswamp]

typical mac fanboys crying about everything that could be competition

I'm a Mac user but by no stretch an Apple "fanboy" (which is a term I suspect true fanboys throw around at other people, but I digress.) What annoys me about these kinds of things is competitors rushing in to ape Apple's approach and generally doing them in an uninspired, me-too kind of way and talking smack about Apple as if what Apple has done was so obvious and easy to do. Yeah, if that's the case, why didn't you do it before Apple?

Come on, you have to admit that it was one of the most unbelievable displays of corporate hubris that T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon and hell, even AT&T, didn't come up with all these great ideas going on around the iPhone. They had so much time to beat Apple to the punch with the iPhone and the App Store and they sat back expecting that their little telecommunications fiefdoms would be safe for generations to come. And now they rush in to do these half-assed copies of what Apple is doing.

You really think people reacting to that is just a fanboy thing?

[maokh]

the year 2001 called, they want their mMode/t-zones/vision appstore press releases back.

wow, did tmobile dig this one up from years past? "App stores" have existed for years, usually in WAP form, but sometimes as a specific application.

[newb16]

- The leader in premium destops and notebooks

That cracking white things that are bought because one can't legally run macos on any other notebook?


- The dominant online seller of music
- The dominant online seller of video

Will they ever overthow riaa and become riaa themselves?



- A 'LOCK-IN' of existing customers, as the majority of music, videos & applications they have purchased from apple will only work on apple products,

They did not 'purchased' them, right? They obtained a license to listen ( view ) it on apple hardware but didn't read the fine print.